Patriarch of Historic Napa Vineyard is 101 years and still going strong

Mira Advani Honeycutt was
lucky to have an opportunity to chat with Peter Mondavi Sr shortly before his 101st birthday, revelling in his reminiscences and homespun business philosophy

The patriarch of the historic Charles Krug Winery, Peter Mondavi Sr, who celebrated his 101st birthday in November, is the oldest vintner in Napa Valley, California — and perhaps in the United States. “I never thought of any business other than the wine business. In fact, I still come here every day,” he told me when I interviewed him in his office at the Charles Krug Winery in June 2013. He was then approaching his 99th birthday and, as was his daily routine, walked up the exterior metal staircase to the second floor of the building for our meeting. I was honoured to attend Peter Sr.’s 99th birthday celebration that also marked the unveiling of the new hospitality centre in 2013.